Part 24 (1/2)

For further particulars respecting these works see Appendix

114 The Azure Apollo

If Payne's translation had been met by the wind, Burton anticipated that his oith its blunt faithfulness to the original and its erotic notes, would bethe teht it not iainst hi at bay with the Authorised Version of the Bible in one hand as a shi+eld, and Urquhart's Rabelais in the other as a e, Burton was not one to jeopardise hi to take any reasonable precautions So he discussed the matter with his friend F F Arbuthnot, who had recently returned fro place, Upper House Court, near Guildford Mr Arbuthnot, who, as we have seen, had for years given his whole soul to Eastern literature, had already published a group of Hindu stories [388] and was projecting manuals of Persian [389] and Arabic [390] literature and a series of translations of famous Eastern works, soested that this series and Burton's Arabian Nights should be published noiven the appropriate naospel--Society, Kaenerally represented as a beautiful youth riding on an eed lorry or parrot In his hand he holds a bow of flowers and five arrows--the five senses; and dancing girls attend hira, where Krishna [391] the azure Hindu Apollo,

”Tunes harps iht with the Gopia nine” [392]

The books were to be translated by Rehatsek and a Hindu pundit navanlal Indraji, Burton and Arbuthnot were to revise and annotate, and Arbuthnot was to find the money Burton fell in with the idea, as did certain other members of Arbuthnot's circle, who had always been keenly interested in Orientalism, and so was formed the famous Ka to the history of the Society has before been made public, is explained by the fact that Burton and Arbuthnot, conversant with the tes in ly insisted upon that Arbuthnot's standpoint, like Burton's, was solely for the student ”He wished,” he said, ”to relishmen who are interested in Oriental literature” These erotic books in one form or another are in the hands of 200,000,000 of Orientals Surely, argued Arbuthnot, a few genuine English students--a few, grave, bald-headed, spectacled, happily entlemen--may read them without injury [393] The modern student seeks his treasure everywhere, and cares not into whatas he finds it No writer on 18th century French History, for exaies, as Carlyle did, for having read Casanova

Indeed, he would lay hi studied it carefully Still, every genuine and right-ards it as a duty to keep books such as these, which are unsuited for the general public, under lock and key--just as the medical man treats his books of plates and other reference voluain it is entirely a mistake to suppose that the works issued or contemplated by the Kama Shastra Society were all of them erotic Two out of the six actually done: The Beharistan and The Gulistan, and the whole of the nine still in ht, after a snip or tith the scissors, be read aloud in almost any company

We have the first hint of the Kaust 1882 ”I hope,” says Burton, ”you will not forget my friend, F F Arbuthnot, and benefit hi when he applies to you for it He has undertaken a peculiar branch of literature--the Hindu Erotic, which promises well” On Dec 23th he writes: ”My friend Arbuthnot writes toupon you He has founded a society consisting of himself and myself” After further reference to the idea he adds, ”I hope that you will enjoy it”

A few days later Mr Arbuthnot called on Mr Payne Mr Payne did not ”enjoy” the unfolding of the Kama Shastra scheave the information required as to cost of production; and both then and subsequently assisted in other matters of business Moreover, to Mr Arbuthnot hireat personal charm, Mr Payne became sincerely attached, and a friendshi+p resulted that was severed only by death

The arrange the books did not, of course, apply to The Arabian Nights That was Burton's own affair; for its success was supposed to be assured frohts published by the Kama Shastra Society--each of which purported, facetiously, to be printed at Behares, the naton, we shall now give a brief account

Several, we said, are erotic But it should be clearly understood what is here meant by the term The plays of Wycherley and other Caroline dramatists are erotic in a bad sense We admit their literary qualities, but we cannot hide from ourselves the fact that they ritten by libertines and that an attempt is made to render vice attractive The injured husband, for exalorified The Hindu books, on the other hand, ritten by professedly religiousand wantonness, but simply and in all sincerity to prevent the separation of husband and wife”--not to make them a married couple look afield, but ”to lead the each other better” Vatsyayan and Kullianh they poetized the pleasures of the flesh, would have been horrified could they have read the plays of Wycherley and Etheridge The erotic books that Arbuthnot wished to be translated were the following--all by Hindu poets more or less famous:--

The Kaa (Stage of Love) by Kullianmull

Ratirahasya (Secrets of Love) by Kukkoka

Panchasakya (The Five Arrows) by Jyotirisha

Sht of Love) by Gunakara

Ratimanjari (Garland of Love) by Jayadeva

Rasmanjari (Sprout of Love) by Bhanudatta

Of these seven books two only were issued, naa or Lila Shastra The precise share that Burton [395] had in them will never be known It is sufficient to say that he had a share in both, and the second, according to the title page, was ”translated from the Sanskrit and annotated by A F F and B F R,” that is F F

Arbuthnot and Richard Francis Bacon--the initials being purposely reversed

115 The Ka upon The Kama Sutra, Indraji--for he was the actual translator--found his copy, which had been procured in Bombay, to be defective, so he wrote to Benares, Calcutta and Jeypoor for copies of the manuscripts preserved in the Sanskrit libraries of those places

These having been obtained and compared with each other, a revised copy of the entire as compiled and from this Indraji made his translation ”This work,” he says, ”is not to be usedour desires A person acquainted with the true principles of this science, who preserved his Dharious merit), his Artha (worldly wealth) and his Kaard to the customs of the people, is sure to obtain theperson, attending to Dhar the slave of his passions, will obtain success in everything that he ht just as is taught--say, hygiene or political econo Dharma, Artha and Kama enjoys happiness both in this world and in the world to come” It must not be supposed that the work is entirely erotic There are also directions for one's conduct at religious festivals, especially that in honour of Saraswati, [396]

picnics, drinking parties and other social gatherings Still, the erotic preponderates The work isomen are or are not worthy of affection There are full instructions respecting kissing, an art which is not so easy to learn as some persons think Still, athe Kama Sutra would be a dullard indeed Soh Thus we are told that ”nothing tends to increase love so ” Soe are slow to make up their minds With that situation there are, it see: ”When the girl goes to a garden, or to sobourhood, thekilled thehtened them away, forcibly carry her off” Soirl ”should bring hihts of quails, cocks and ra) talk she should also a such things as he elina when they get married there is also much wholesome instruction ”The wife, whether she be a woinre-married, [398] should lead a chaste life” ”When the man sets out on a journey she should make him swear that he will return quickly [399] When the man does return home she should worshi+p the God Kama” Ladies will be interested to learn that there are twenty-seven artifices by which a wo his intelligence to his face” Then there are useful directions for the personal adornment of both sexes ”If the bone of a peacock or of a hyena be covered with gold and tied to the right hand, it makes a man lovely in the eyes of other people”